TERRY WEBER
Globe and Mail Update Published on Monday, Feb. 06, 2006 10:51AM EST Last updated on Sunday, Apr. 05, 2009 1:19AM EDT
Wary motorists worried about road rage, speeding vehicles and reckless lane changes may now have something else to keep them up at nights – drivers with heart problems.
A new study out of Ireland Monday found that one in 14 men suffering a heart attack got behind the wheel to drive himself to the hospital.
The findings were based on a survey 890 heart attack patients admitted to six major hospitals in Dublin, Ireland.
According to the study's results, 7 per cent of men later admitted to hospital drove themselves to the emergency department. By comparison, only 1 per cent of women did the same.
“Driving during a heart attack, is obviously extremely dangerous for both the driver and the general public,” lead author Sharon O'Donnell said.
“People who drove themselves to the hospital said they did it because it was the quickest way to get to the hospital, they felt they were well enough to make the journey and they would have pulled over if necessary.”
Still, the findings also suggested that many of those who drove themselves also said they felt near collapse by the time they got to the emergency department.
The report also said only about 63 per cent of women and 60 per cent of men travelled by ambulance.
“Many said they were too embarrassed to go in an ambulance or that they should be used for more urgent cases,” the report said.
In addition, 4 cent of men and 3 per cent of women used public transportation.
The study also found that it took women five times longer than men to decide to seek medical help from the onset of initial symptoms. On average, women waited 14 hours from the time they began experiencing early symptoms before heading to an emergency ward, compared with 2.8 hours for men.
Even when symptoms intensified, it took women 3.1 hours to get there, compared with 1.8 hours for men.
“We are particularly concerned that women face much longer delays, both in the time it takes them to get to the hospital and in receiving treatment and being admitted when they arrive,” Ms. O'Donnell said.
“Women need to be much more aware of the risks they face from heart attacks and the importance of seeking prompt treatment.”
Previous research conducted by the same team found it took women 54 minutes longer to be admitted to coronary care units than men.
The findings were published the most recent edition of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
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